Woman, 23, Found Dead in Bolton Flat a Year After Her Death

Police have discovered the body of a 23-year-old woman who had been dead for approximately a year inside her home in Bolton, Greater Manchester.

The remains of Charlotte Leader were found in her flat on Newbury Walk, Bolton, during a police welfare check on August 6, an inquest at Bolton Coroner’s Court heard. Officers were called after neighbours raised concerns, saying they had not seen the young woman for a long time.

Charlotte, described by her family as a “beautiful and talented” young woman, was last in contact with relatives in September 2021. Her mother, Chantay Simm, told the court that despite repeated attempts to find her daughter, Charlotte had become “impossible to find” and appeared to have withdrawn from contact.

During the hearing, Assistant Coroner Stephen Teasdale said Charlotte had a history of mental health issues and had gradually distanced herself from both her family and mental health services. She reportedly declined an appointment in 2022 and had no further contact with healthcare professionals afterward.

Mr Teasdale said there was no evidence of drug use or self-harm, adding that her diaries contained nothing to suggest any intention to end her life.

Charlotte’s sister, Caroline Calow, told the court that her sister had struggled with eating disorders, including bulimia, from a young age. She said the flat “looked like someone who cared” and did not appear to belong to a person who had given up on life. No medication was found at the property.

Detective Inspector Paul Quinn, who led the investigation, said the flat was “sparsely furnished” but “immaculately clean.” Officers found unopened mail stacked behind the front door and food in the refrigerator with expiry dates from July 2024, suggesting Charlotte may have been alive up to that point.

Her body was discovered under her duvet, and boxes of detox cleansing products were found nearby. DI Quinn confirmed there were no signs of a struggle or foul play.

He also revealed that the only recent activity on Charlotte’s phone involved conversations with ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot. Her final recorded message, dated July 30, 2024, read:

“Help me, I’ve went and got food again.”

The AI system responded:

“You sound conflicted about having food.”

Charlotte replied:

“It’s food that I didn’t want and that’s frustrating.”

DI Quinn said these messages appeared to reflect her ongoing struggles with food and body image. “There were others all in the same context,” he said. “There were no conversations with anyone else—her only contact was with ChatGPT.”

Pathologist Dr Andrew Coates, from the Royal Bolton Hospital, told the court that the examination of Charlotte’s remains was challenging due to their mummified state  something not unusual after a prolonged period of death.

Coroner Teasdale returned an open verdict, concluding that there was insufficient evidence to determine how Charlotte died.

In a heartfelt tribute, Charlotte’s family described her as “a very beautiful and talented young woman” who loved playing guitar and keyboard and had “a passion for art.” They added:

“She was loved tremendously by the family and will be missed every day.”